PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — After a successful season, Presque Isle’s girls varsity basketball team is aiming to make it to the Cross Center this February.
The Wildcats boasted an impressive 14-1 record last season, with a tough loss to Southern Aroostook in the Aroostook County finals by a score of 64-58.
The Wildcats are led by coach Jeff Hudson, who has amassed 28 years total of coaching experience. That experience shows as he aims to improve his players from day one, and forge his players into strong opponents on the court.
“We need to improve in all areas at this point in the year, but it will be important that we develop scoring from everyone that is on the floor,” said Hudson. “We need to have a threat from every position.”
Members of the 2021-2022 Wildcats include seniors Faith Sjoberg, Courtney Kane, Sadie LaPointe, Myah Bragdon; juniors Anna Jandreau, Mia Casavant, Rossalyn Buck; sophomores Karlyn Gilmour, Jorja Maynard, Grace O’Connell, and Lexi Morningstar.
The Wildcats have two returning starters from the last season; Faith Sjoberg and Anna Jandreau, who are considered by Hudson to be two of the best guards in Aroostook County.
Sjoberg is going into year four as a starter for the Wildcats and is viewed by many as one of the best players in Class B North. She has consistently proven herself as an excellent 3-point shooter, totalling an average of 14 points in the previous season.
Jandreau is going into year three as a starter for the Wildcats. She averaged eight points per game last year, and has been instrumental as a key defender for Presque Isle.
Other probable starters include Lapointe. A forward, she played significant minutes last year, earning a name for herself as an excellent rebounder, and overall tough player. Kane is a reliable shooter from 15 feet while playing as a forward, and is in her second year on varsity. Maynard, a guard, is a solid athlete in her second year of varsity. While she is only a sophomore, she shows a lot of potential for the upcoming season.
These starters will need to work hard to fill the void left behind from last year’s seniors; Hattie Bubar, Julianna Morningstar, Rhylee Kinney and Meg Casavant.
Presque Isle is eying its biggest competition in the league, to better strategize on how they should play this season. Houlton and Caribou are strong contenders, and in the Penobscot Valley Conference, Old Town and Mount Desert Island should be the best teams, but others will be competitive as well, according to Hudson.
The Wildcats stay in their position as a Class B team, and will be playing teams such as Hermon, Houlton, Caribou, and John Bapst.
The Wildcats are also determined to play their best, even with the current mask mandate in the league. “We have dealt with masks last year with both school and basketball so we are somewhat used to it,” said Hudson. “We do not have to like it, and it does affect all the girls at times, but we are thankful to have fans back at the games.”
